Over time, dirt, dust and other contaminants can wear down and damage flooring. It’s always a great idea to place a decent doormat or rug in front of doorways to catch as much grime as possible from getting into the rooms of your home.

Cleaning vinyl flooring is easy and relatively inexpensive. With consistent and proper care, you can maintain the flooring’s attractive appearance over a long period of time.

You can always use plain hot water and a sponge mop if nothing else. Before doing any wet mopping, you’ll want to vacuum or dry mop the floor to remove surface dirt, dust and hair. Move the furniture; get into the corners and along the baseboards.

A great cleaner for vinyl or laminate flooring is a simple apple cider vinegar mix. The acidity of the vinegar helps take out dirt and grime without leaving a buildup of ingredients. (Mix one cup of apple cider vinegar with a gallon of hot water). Use a damp mop to clean, rinsing the mop frequently with hot water.

To disinfect as you clean, substitute white vinegar for the apple cider vinegar. If your floor is especially dirty, add a few drops of liquid dishwashing soap to the mixture. Mop once with the soap mixture, a second time with only vinegar and water and then a clean hot water mopping. (To add shine to the flooring add a few drops of baby oil to the vinegar/water solution).

You can accent your home flooring with beautiful silk rugs. Because previously, these elaborate rugs and “Persian” carpets were handmade and took so much time to produce, they were so costly only the very wealthy could afford them. Today, however, almost anyone can afford to purchase distinctive machine made silk rugs to accent or use to make a statement about their home.

Silk has a higher tensile strength than nylon. These rugs are woven in a range of line grades from 300 to 720 and the tighter the weave, the more durable the carpet or rug. The majority of silk rugs are still produced in the Middle and Far East.

The quality and price of silk rugs is determined by knot count. Less expensive today, silk rugs and carpets are popular because of their uniqueness, stunning lustrous looks and flamboyant patterns. They are ideal for homes that like to make an exotic style statement.

Silk rugs are delicate floor pieces which should not be used in high traffic areas. They are used more as accent carpets, floor decor and throw rugs. They are also popular as wall hangings. Silk rugs and carpets require careful maintenance. Cleaning should only be performed by a professional cleaner.